General Insurance

The term "general insurance" refers to policies that cover property and financial risk, such as those covering motor vehicles, home contents, and travel insurance. It excludes life insurance and health insurance products.

An insurance policy spreads the cost of unexpected risks among a large number of people who share a similar risk profile.

Insurers charge monthly or annual premiums for their policies. The money goes into a large pool with the premiums of thousands of other policyholders.

General insurance products sold in the Australian market can roughly be divided into two classes:

• Liability Insurance such as compulsory third-party (CTP) motor insurance, worker’s compensation, professional indemnity insurance and public liability insurance, business insurance.

General Insurers

Large general insurer groups include:

• Insurance Australia Group (IAG) markets its products under brands including NRMA, RACV, SGIO and CGU.
• Suncorp market its products under brands including AAMI, GIO, APIA, Just Car, Bingle, Vero, InsureMyRide, Shannons, CIL and Terri Scheer.
• QBE Insurance
• Youi Insurance, which is owned by African company OUTsurance Holdings, underwrites its policies and markets only under Youi Insurance.
• Auto & General markets its products under brands including Budget Direct, Australia Post, and Virgin Money and they underwrite home and car insurance from 1Cover.
• Allianz Australia brands include Club Marine and Hunter Premium Funding and they underwrite travel insurance from 1Cover.
• Hollard Insurance markets its policies through a no. of brands including Real Insurance and Guardian.
• IGroup (Australia) Woolworths Insurance sells policies through agents such as Woolworths, Australian Seniors Insurance, Medibank and others.